PREB issues regulation for towns to partake in streetlight repair.

The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau acknowledged that municipalities are well‑positioned to support public lighting repair and modernization efforts in their communities, but stressed that any such involvement must occur within an established, regulated structure that does not interfere with system operations or the bureau’s regulatory authority. (lumapr.com)

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) issued on Thursday the regulation that sets out the rules for municipalities seeking to participate in the repair, maintenance, installation, or modernization of public lighting connected to the island’s electrical grid.

The regulation, formally titled the “Regulation for the Authorization, Supervision, and Oversight of Municipal Participation in Public Lighting Connected to the Electric System,” establishes a unified legal and technical framework to guide such collaboration.

The PREB noted that the rule is grounded in several major statutes that govern the Puerto Rico energy sector, including the Energy Transformation and Relief Act (Law 57‑2014), the Puerto Rico Electric System Transformation Act (Law 120‑2018), and the Uniform Administrative Procedure Act (Law 38‑2017). It was also crafted in harmony with the Transmission and Distribution System Operation and Maintenance Agreement involving the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, the Public‑Private Partnerships Authority, and grid operator LUMA Energy, along with any future successor operators. This ensures that all municipal involvement in public lighting remains consistent with the technical standards and operational protocols required for the safe management of the transmission and distribution system.

According to the PREB, the purpose of the regulation is to advance public policy goals related to the reliability, resilience, safety, and efficient operation of Puerto Rico’s electrical system. The PREB emphasized that street lighting plays a critical role in public safety, urban mobility and quality of life. It acknowledged that municipalities are well‑positioned to support repair and modernization efforts in their communities, but stressed that any such involvement must occur within an established, regulated structure that does not interfere with system operations or the PREB’s regulatory authority.

To that end, the regulation outlines how municipal participation should be coordinated with the system operator and ensures that all work -- whether repair, maintenance, installation or modernization -- adheres to applicable technical and safety standards. It details the procedures for authorizing agreements between municipalities and the operator, establishes the types of interventions municipalities may carry out, and describes the supervision and oversight mechanisms that will apply to all approved projects.

In its cost-benefit analysis, the PREB determined that the regulation does not create significant new expenses for the government or the public. Since it does not establish new spending programs or impose financial obligations on the state, the PREB concluded that its fiscal impact is minimal. Instead, the rule is intended to make better use of existing resources by enabling municipalities to participate in public lighting work in a structured and compliant manner. The PREB noted that this approach may help accelerate repairs, reduce delays, and improve service to residents without undermining system stability.

The new rules apply to all collaborative agreements involving municipal work on public lighting that is connected to the transmission or distribution system. They also apply to any individual or entity performing such work under an approved agreement. However, the regulation does not extend to lighting systems that operate entirely independently of the electric power grid, such as standalone, off‑grid lighting installations.